In uninspired effort, Patriots top Jaguars, 23-16_BINARY_1062492

The New England Patriots defeated the Jaguars, 23-16, today in Jacksonville. Twice in the final five minutes, the Jaguars moved the ball inside the Patriot 20-yard line with a chance to tie the game

Paul Kenyon

The New England Patriots defeated the Jaguars, 23-16, today in Jacksonville. Twice in the final five minutes, the Jaguars moved the ball inside the Patriot 20-yard line with a chance to tie the game.

Jacksonville had second-and-goal from the Patriot 1-yard line with 4:45 remaining, but failed to score. After a running play failed to gain anything, tight end Zach Potter was flagged for false start. Dont'a Hightower sacked Chad Henne at the 10-yard line. Patrick Chung then intercepted Henne's pass intended for Cecil Shorts on fourth down.

The Patriots could not run the clock out after that, giving Jacksonville the ball back with just under a minute left. The Jaguars moved to the New England 12-yard line with 8 seconds left, but Henne threw one incompletion before Chung intercepted him again on the final play of the game.

A Tom Brady to Wes Welker two-yard pass in the first minute of the fourth quarter gave the Patriots a 23-13 lead over Jacksonville. The Jaguars got a field goal from Josh Scobee after that to make it 23-16.

The Patriots pulled into a 13-13 tie on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Danny Woodhead with 18 seconds left in the half.

The pass completed a 10-play, 66-yard drive and gave the Patriots their first touchdown in the first half in two games.

Jacksonville carried the play at the start, with work including two interceptions and a team-record 202 yards in offense in the first quarter.

The Patriots did nothing early on. The Jags had a 10-0 lead before Brady completed his first pass.

Jacksonville came out operating out of the no huddle after receiving the opening kickoff. Chad Henne looked like Brady as he would come to the line, survey the defense, and then move to boh sides of his line to shout out the play. The Jags took nine plays, all of which included gains, as it marched 79 yards for the game's first touchdown. Justin Blackmon had the score on a three-yard pass from Henne.

The Pats did not answer.

On their first possession they got one penalty on a pass interference call. Brady's second pass was lofted down the left sideline toward Stevan Ridley. It appeared to be a bit underthrown, forcing Ridley to turn his body. It went off his hands and popped up. Chris Prosinski intercepted it at the Jags 47. It was the fourth interception for Brady in four games, that after going five straight starts without a pick.

The Pats got three back on their next possession, although that was a disappointment. They had a first and goal on the nine, helped by a 32-yard pass to Michael Hoomanawanui. A Ridley run gained two yards and passes in the end zone to Aaron Hernandez and Brandon Lloyd did not connect.

The Jags missed a chance to build their lead when Josh Scobee could not connect on a field goal. But they picked up Brady again, on a long pass down the middle on which Derek Cox outfought Lloyd for the ball.